Michael Debenham never talked much to his children about his service during the Falklands conflict.

But when he died two years ago he left his diary to his daughter Aimee to read.

Crew members were actually banned from keeping them in case they fell into enemy hands, but he wanted one for his family’s history.

In the beginning, at the start of the voyage south when little of note happened, it contained brief matter of fact sentences. Then more detailed entries began to appear, recording the anguish of losing friends, hits against the Argentinians and his thoughts on the war.

Born in Clyffe Pypard, Michael was a boy sailor who joined the Royal Navy at 15 after being given the choice of military service or borstal. It straightened him out and by the time the Falklands came along in April 1982 he was a Chief Petty Officer aircraft handler in HMS Hermes.

His family was based in Weymouth and Aimee's mum Lynda worked on the switchboard at Portland navy base.

Even as a young child Aimee picked up the tense atmosphere among the families left at home, waiting for news of loved ones and hoping they were safe. "Everybody was on pins all the time," she said. "The communication coming out was nothing like it is today."

Unlike some children she was not shielded and was allowed to watch news bulletins even when footage of British ships being hit was shown.

"I wasn't cosseted and I'm grateful for that," she said.

But there was little hint of what was eventually to play out as Michael opened his diary and made his first entry.

On April 5 he recorded: “Sailed Portsmouth.”

Hermes’ first stop was off Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to pick up aircraft before starting the passage south two days later.

On April 12 all the crew took part in a sports afternoon, then three days later they held a traditional crossing the line ceremony as the ship crossed the Equator.

Arriving at Ascension Island the ship took on stores before heading south again on April 18. Michael’s diary noted: "Sub report, action stations, RAS and Flyex.” That meant replenishment at sea and flying exercises.

April 20: “Action stations forenoon. Capt’s briefing in the mess – Interesting!?”

April 21: “Defence stations ad infinitum. Two watches, eight on, eight off.”

We'll be featuring more entries from Michael's diary over the next few weeks until the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict.